The RTU students won the following:

• 300,000 pesos in cash
• 2 laptops
• 2 digital cameras
• and 2 cellphones

They were able to get 3 correct answers in the shortest time — 50 seconds and 45/60 second.

Dhang was so touched and happy she wanted to cry.

The contestants were:

SSC San Sebastian College Recoletos —  Nikka and Raquel

TUP Technological University of the Philippines —  Reggie and E-Thao

RTU Rizal Technological University —  Dennis and Dhang

JRU Jose Rizal University —  Andre and Rockford

PUP Polytechnic University of the Philippines —  Joel and Vhen

PMI Philippine Maritime Institute —  Jun and Jan

The results:

SSC  –  Tao  –  2 correct answers at 2:18:64 minutes

TUP  –  Lugar  –  2 correct answers at 2:19:59 minutes

RTU  –  Hayop  –  3 correct answers at 50:45 seconds

JRU  –  Pagkain  –  3 correct answers at 1:22:60 minutes

PUP  –  Hayop  –  3 correct answers at 2:14:59 minutes

PMI  –  Lugar  –  2 or 3 correct answers at …. I wasn’t able to get the results, as RTU students were already celebrating their victory.

Just today, I discovered that one of my new articles on another blog was stolen, copied and pasted. Eksakto.  Wala man lang iniba.  Right to the period. And I’m glad that it was not by a Filipino blogger.  It was a very relieving discovery for me… na hindi Pinoy.

I spend time writing my articles, especially those with facts and figures. Most of the time, I don’t rely on second-hand information. If I can, I go to the source.  I go to the official websites, to the websites of the persons, companies, government agencies or organizations. And I make effort to make my article unique, I put a different spin on it, even if I use the same statistics or data, kasi yon naman ang data — you can’t change it.  There’s significant time and effort exerted to research, analyze and write.  Pati yong HTML coding (for posts na kelangan ng special layout).  Tapos, kokopyahin lang.

Meron pa akong nakita, kinopya itong post ko about tuition fees. Eksakto. Ang haba ng article na ito, di ba? At work in progress talaga itong post na ito, kasi kung saan-saan ko kinukuha yong tuition fees — from schools’ websites (mostly), from calling schools, from students commenting here, from my own search for school for my daughter, from students’ forums, from my daughter’s friends… Tapos, kinopya lang, copied and pasted. Buti, yong blogger na nangopya is obviously bata pa, siguro hindi pa alam ang plagiarism, hindi pa alam ang mga Internet etiquette, so I just advised him.

What are really detestable are the PROFESSIONAL PLAGIARISTS — the online PIRATES.  Google has started penalizing sites with duplicates, so plagiarists and pirates, start changing your ways.  Now, your plagiarized posts are appearing on Google results, but they’re not on Page 1.  Soon, your plagiarized posts will appear no longer.

Related Articles:
Fellow New Freelance Writers in the Philippines — Some Tips
Freelance Writers — $5 Per 400- to 500-Word Article
My Personal Make Money Online Version

Yes, on China Airlines.

Airlines have different policies concerning cargo, so call your airline and ask.

Last month, my brother brought a classic guitar with him to Canada. He bought one here because he says guitars are much more expensive there.

As we were budgeting our money, we debated whether we would buy the hard case which costs about 3,000 pesos and the soft case, which is just about 450 pesos. The guitar costs 10,000 pesos. If we were sure he could carry it on the plane as a hand-carry, then the soft case would be okay, but we weren’t sure. So, finally, we bought the hard case.

Sta Mesa?

I know we could have saved money if days before, we went to Santa Mesa and bought a guitar from stores there. But the guitar was an instant decision. Would you believe we bought the guitar at a music store inside the SM Megamall on our way to the airport?

Imagine the running here and there as we looked where the music stores were. Kudos to the SM security guard who knew exactly where all the music stores were located.

Check-In

Upon check-in with China Airlines people, the guitar was accepted and labeled with airline tags, but was returned to my brother for temporary handling. This was to prevent the guitar from being mixed with the heavier and not-fragile baggages that are handled casually.

He was instructed to hand over the guitar to a crew member upon boarding. The guitar would be placed in storage somewhere on the plane where it’s expected to resist breaking.

After about 16 hours including stop-over time, my brother arrived in Vancouver with the guitar as good as new — no damage.

the NAIA toilets clean and supplied with water, soap and toilet paper is good news not only for tourist but also for OFWs and their families.

Last March, when I sent my brother off at the NAIA, I mustered all my strength so I wouldn’t puke at the smell of the toilets. There was no water. But I had to choose between puking and peeing on my pants, as I couldn’t hold it any longer.

OFWs saved the country from the 2007-2010 global crisis from going under, but look at the treatment they’re getting from their own airport:

• Tinataboy ang mga pamilya nila ng mga security guards out of the departure area. (Tama rin yong objective, pero may sistema sana.)
• Pinapaalis ang van na inarkila ng OFW within a few minutes of arrival sa departure area, pero marami namang naka-park doon na siempre alam ninyo na kung sinu-sino ang mga may-ari. (Tama uli ang objective, pero fair kayo dapat.)
• Tinitiis nila ang amoy at kung ano ang nasa toilet bowls sa restrooms, toilets o CR.

OFWs sent nearly $18.77 billion to the Philippines in 2010, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country’s total GDP, according to the BSP. It also accounted for nearly one-third of the country’s Gross International Reserves of $62.1 billion as of December 2010.

The World Bank’s estimate was even higher at $21.3 billion, probably because it had estimates of remittances that didn’t pass thru BSP-supervised entities. This total pushed the Philippines to rank fourth in the World Bank’s chart on total inward remittances worldwide in 2010.

$21.3 billion — wow, that’s 34.3 percent of the Philippines’ 2010 total foreign reserves! That’s more than one-third.

I hope the NAIA and the newer airports consider the OFW and Pinoy culture, particularly the need for families to be together at the last hours/minutes before departure. Imagine, hindi nga naman kayo magkikita over a period of one year or two years, and even three years, so it’s understandable that the children, the mothers, fathers, wives and husbands maximize the time to be together.

I hope they come up with an airport departure-area design that respects this OFW reality, and I hope they finally clean up the toilets.

The last time I was at the NAIA arrival area, ang maganda ay inalis na nila yong 30-pesos fee sa covered area, pero pinalitan naman nila yong signages from alphabets to numbers. Ang hirap tingnan kung nasaan yong inaantay mo, lalo na kung hindi mo na kabisado yong itsura ng inaantay.

At least, kung alphabets, kahit walang prior usapan, common sense na tatayo doon sa start ng family name yong arriving person.

P.S.: Kahit walang TP, basta malinis, walang amoy, okay ang flush, nakikita agad yong flush button, may tubig ang faucet, at may sabitan ng bag. If you’re concerned about vanishing TP rolls, put the TP rolls outside the cubicles.

Photo credits:

• top photo by orangeyume of webshots.com
• second photo by beije of webshots.com

landline number and told me that PLDT is celebrating its 80th or (83rd?) anniversary. Immediately, my mind said “Here’s another marketing scheme.”  The woman didn’t mention Home Sonic in her first statements; she was always talking about PLDT.

Just the other day, someone called me about a FREE health care card from Mastercard, but in the latter part of her spiel, she said I was awarded a 50-percent discount, and that I had to pay ONLY about 6,000 pesos.

Going back to the claimed PLDT promo — I wonder where they get the numbers, and why they know my number is a new subscription. They must be buying these numbers.  I must have put my landline number in a raffle coupon, or an application for something, or a purchase receipt duplicate, or an agent must have made a list.  Cell phone number na nga lang ang isusulat ko sa mga slips kung kelangan — gagasto sila para tawagan ako.

Similar to the spiel of many other marketers, this ‘PLDT’ woman said I was a lucky PLDT subscriber, and that I can claim my rewards from Home Sonic at Metropolis Alabang.  I just need to bring two valid IDs, and my latest PLDT bill.

Of course, most of us know what usually happens when people go to Home Sonic, as told many times over by victims of these schemes. They’re presented with their prizes, but they could not get out of the store with these prizes. They’re pressured to buy costly appliances that are not needed to live. Kelangan ba natin ang massage chair? Ang foot massager? Ang microwave na may radio at orasan? Sa totoo lang, lumalamon ng kuryente ang microwave.

Pero sa galing nilang magsalita, mapapa-believe ka at maiisip mo:

• Oo nga, kelangan ko ang mga ito.
• Oo nga, deserve ng family ko ang mga ito.
• Oo, kawawa naman itong seller na ito, walang kita pag hindi ako bumili.
• Oo nga, napakamura na nga ito.
• Oo nga, nakakahiya pag di man lang ako bumili eh may bigay sila sa aking libre.
• Oo, bibili na ako kasi na-massage na ako nang matagal.
• Oo, bibilhin ko na kasi kikita naman ako dito pag mabenta ko kay mare/pare.
• Oo, kasi ang dami na ring bumili, ang daming masaya, ang saya-saya nila.

Shaming or flattering prospective buyers, and making them believe they’re getting the best deals of their lives are techniques that play on human nature, and specifically the respectful, understanding, maawain and gentle nature of many Pinoys.

I would have shamed the Home Sonic ‘PLDT’ caller by telling her how she was deceiving people, but I don’t know why I didn’t.  Siguro nagsawa na ako. O kasi Pinoy nga ako.

Akala ko wala na yong mga ganito. Marami pa rin pala.

Totoo pa rin yong Number 1 sign ng SCAM — TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. Libre at walang bayad? Bakit? Hindi puedeng walang dahilan.  Malaki daw ang kita? Bakit? There’s a reason.

Legitimate promos are well-publicized. Ang mga promos ng mga Legitimate and Big Companies ay well-advertised. Nasa official websites nila, nasa one-page or half-page ads sa newspapers,at announced by reliable TV personalities.

Nakakapanghinayang na merong mga napapabili in CASH ng 25K to 54K ng mga appliances na later they realize are Not Really Needed.  Surf the Internet; nagkalat ang mga complaints from Home Sonic or Greentop victims.

———————————————————

After resigning from your company to become self-employed, one of the first things you should do is to become a voluntary member of  Philhealth.  Once you miss paying the required number of months prior to hospitalization, you’ll not be able to claim health benefits, even if you’ve been a member of Philhealth for many years.

If you’re hospitalized and you make a Philhealth claim, Philhealth will check if you’ve paid at least three months of premium within the six-month period immediately prior to your confinement. For example, if you’re confined in October, your prior six-month period is April to September. Within this six-month period, you should have paid at least three months of premiums.

For pregnancy cases, chemotherapy,  radiotherapy, dialysis (except emergency dialysis during confinement) and major surgical procedures, the requirement is payment of at least nine monthly premiums within the 12-month period immediately prior to hospitalization.  For example, if you’re hospitalized in October, the prior 12-month period is October 2009 to  September 2010.  Within this 12-month period, you should have paid at least nine monthly premiums.

Retroactive payments are not allowed, meaning you can’t pay for months missed just to fulfill the required number of paid premiums.

One of the people who commented in another Philhealth article, Eli, has related his sad experience of not being able to use Philhealth:

“Last April I resigned from my work. Now this October manganganak si misis ko and added my wife as my dependent for my philhealth (she was not a previous member so wlang conflict).. Then siyempre to be able to use my philhealth gusto ko bayaran ung mga hindi ko nabayarang buwan. Ang sabi ng taga philhealth office hindi ko na daw pwedeng bayaran ung previous months ko since malaki daw kasi ung gap (6 months starting from April)at hindi daw ppwede ang retroactive payments. then tinanog ko kung ano lang ang pwedeng mabayaran ko. Ang sabi sa akin, ang pwede ko lang daw mabayarang ay ung months from October to Decembber. Tinanong ko din kung what if bayaran ko ung october to december eh magagamit ko ba ung philhealth sa panganganak ng misis ko. Ang sabi sa akin hindi daw ppwede kasi kailangan maghintay pa ng 6 months (parang new member, LOL). So ayun, last October nanganak si misis ng CS at hindi ko manlang napakinabangang ang LIMANG TAON kong pagiging member just because I was unable to pay continously at nagkaron na ng gap ng 2 quarters.
Kaya to all members na nagresign, nalay-off, or anything related to this kind of scenario. I suggest na asikasuhin ninyo agad ang contributions ninyo and pay as VOLUNTARY MEMBER.”

Related article:

Philhealth Branches — Membership Reactivation

From time to time, I get inquiries about Ideal Pension Plans, as  many of my blog posts are about another pre-need firm Danvil Plans.

Last week, I received from Juni, an Ideal agent in Mindanao, a copy of a Notice of Hearing from the Makati Regional Trial Court for the petition by Ideal Pension Plans for voluntary insolvency. The copy is posted here:

Ideal Pension Plans Corp. Planholders — Time to Unite

Juni said he wrote an email to former Senator Espina inquiring about the status of Ideal Pension Plans. In his email, Juni also wrote about how he has been following up on Ideal, how his wife and brother traveled to Manila just to check into what’s happening at Ideal.

With a lot of planholders Juni and his family have sold plans to, the weight of the Ideal collapse rests heavy and painful on his shoulders.  It’s a harrowing situation.

I myself sold two big CAP plans years ago, and this is something I want to erase from my mind.  I thank the Lord though because these CAP clients understood my situation and never took the CAP failure against me.  They’ve informed me last year that there’s hope they’re getting a portion of what they’ve paid.

Following is the response of former Senator Espina to Juni’s email:  (Juni said Senator Espina gave permission for the posting of this letter.)

Thank you very much for your high regard for me.  I regret very much that I was not able to protect the interests of the plan holders.

I lost my own investment in Ideal but that is the least.  What I regret the most is losing my own good reputation which I value more than money.  I do not and never did control IPPC.  I was just a minority shareholder and the majority stock of the Gabriel family-mother, daughter, sisters and their friends are the majority shareholders.

Said controlling stockholders have mismanaged the corporation by running it like a family corporation and issuing several checks signed by mother and daughter which until the present time I could not audit inspite of the fact that I hired the services of Valdez and Company CPAs. IPPC has filed voluntary bankruptcy proceedings at the Makati RTC.

I will further update you further about IPPC…

Best regards,

Rene Espina

For Ideal Pension planholders, the hearing for Ideal’s petition for voluntary insolvency is on October 5, 2010 at 8:30 am at the 12th floor of the Makati City Hall.

Comment ko lang:  What really is voluntary insolvency?  Is this just a very convenient way of using the court to hide from responsibilities to planholders?

My answer was always about the need for Ideal planholders to connect with each other online and talk about how they can pursue their claims. I’ve even suggested that if they’re interested, I can email those who made comments here about Ideal and ask if they like to exchange email addresses.

Now, one Ideal Pension planholder, Juni, has placed on the comment section a notice he said it came from the Makati Regional Trial Court. And he’s calling for all Ideal Pension planholders to unite, help each other and show their power during the hearing on October 5, 2010.

Comments From Juni:

Hi all! I just received a NOTICE OF HEARING from the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, Branch 66, Makati City which states:

In the matter of the petition for VOLUNTARY INSOLVENCY of IDEAL PENSION PLANS CORP.

IDEAL PENSION PLANS, Petitioner.

Notice of Hearing for:  Meeting of all all IDEAL CREDITORS

You are hereby notified that the above-entitled case will be heard before this Court, located at the 12th Floor, Makati City Hall Building, on the 5th day of October 2010 at 8:30 am, at which date, time and place, you or your duly authorized representative may appear for the selection of assignee and to prove through written evidence your respective claims, without which, it shall not be admitted.

City of Makati, August 23, 2010.

SGD. ATTY. JOHN IVAN B. TABLIZO

Branch Clerk of Court

I hope that this time we will be one and united to press Ideal to give us what is legally due us. Hope everyone could come.

——————————————

According to online SEC records, Ideal Pension Plans Corp. was licensed to sell pre-need plans until December 31, 2008.   In the SEC pre-need list as of September 9, 2008, Ideal Pension was listed, but in the SEC list as of January 2009, Ideal was no longer on the list.

Now, Ideal planholders, you have a chance to make your demands together. Bring xerox and original copies of your Ideal pre-need policies, but guard your original copies. There’s POWER in number. The more planholders at the hearing, the better.

Those who can visit the Makati City Hall and check if there are changes in the notice, it is for everyone’s good if they can do so, and then inform other planholders.

Comments by Ideal planholders can also be found here:

Pre-need Companies in the Philippines Now Under the Insurance Commission

Danvil Plans,Other Pre-Need Firms — Updates

Update from Nori on Ideal Pension Plans as of March 13, 2011:  (Thanks a lot, Nori)

Next hearing is on March 18, 2011, Friday at 9:00 am sa RTC Makati Branch 66.

Under liquidation na po ang Ideal. The court is in the process of approving the liquidation plan. Kailan makukuha ang pera? Di po natin masasabi. It could be months or even years from now. Huwag po tayong mag expect na makukuha natin ng buo ang contract price. Approximately 20% lang makukuha. Depende sa mabebentang ari-arian ng court appointed liquidator, baka mas malaki o mas maliit ang makukuha.

Related Articles:

Planholders of Platinum Plans, Ideal Pension Plans, Grayline Plans — Who Will Fight for Them?

Pre-Need Planholders — How to Ask Help from the Insurance Commission

I bought this one on the picture from CD-R King, where some of the cheapest electronic supplies are sold,  and it has been helpful.  It gives me up to 15 minutes of time to save my files or send a rush email before the PC finally gives out.

This UPS also has a voltage regulator, so it’s two-in-one. The white power strip beside it is also helpful and saves bits of electricity. PCs still use electricity even if they’re off but unplugged from the electric outlet. With the power strip, you don’t have to unplug anything everytime you stop working on your PC.

Related posts:

Freelance Writers — $5 Per 400- to 500-Word Article

Free HP Printer Scanner Copier with Smart Bro

If you’re a former OFW who paid membership fees when Philhealth was still called Medicare, most probably your record is no longer with Philhealth.  So when you want to be a member again, you will be applying as a new member.

You will use the new membership form, and you need to bring your birth certificate, your marriage certificate (so you can include your spouse as your dependent), and birth certificates (so your children will be enrolled as your dependents).  Bring original and xerox copies.

If your spouse is a former Philhealth member, he/she can’t be enrolled as your dependent even if he/she has not paid his/her membership fees for more than 12 months. This was my case. I was rejected as a dependent even if I haven’t paid for more than 12 months.

What I should do, according to Philhealth, is to write a letter informing them I haven’t paid my premiums for  many months and ask them to allow my husband to register me as his dependent.  I hope Philhealth will address this issue in the coming months, so this type of letter is not needed.

Anyway, I wrote the letter, telling them I’m already inactive, and now I’m a dependent of my husband, who’s a former OFW and now an Individually Paying Member.

Here are the offices of Philhealth:

Main Office:
Citystate Centre,  709 Shaw Boulevard,
Pasig City
Trunkline: new number is 441-7444 (as of July 2011, no longer 637-9999)
Office Hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
info@philhealth.gov.ph

Update as of August 12, 2010: Starting September 1, this branch will hold office at DAP Bldg., San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, within the vicinity of SM Megamall. To be sure if the branch has moved before or on schedule, call the office before going there.

Las Piñas Service Office
471 Editha Building, Alabang-Zapote Road,
Las Piñas City
Telephones: 5565374, 5565687, 8015256

Manila Service Office
Marc I Bldg., 1971 Taft Avenue,
Malate, Manila
Administrative – 5216776
Claims – 5232819
Collection – 5233959/5213610
Membership – 5217724/5239842

Caloocan Service Office
Remcor Bldg., Rizal Ave. Extension
between 10th & 11th Ave., Caloocan City
Tel Nos: 3652012, 3652014

Quezon City Service Office
F.R. Estuar Bldg., 880 Quezon Avenue,
Quezon City
Office of the Branch Manager – 3323022
Collection Section – 3323024
Membership Section – 3323132

Rizal Service Office
The Brick Road Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall
Cainta, Rizal
Tel No: 6815111

Makati Service Office
ITC Building, 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue,
Makati City
solp@philhealth.gov.ph
Tel Nos: 897-1598, 897-2759, 897-6329, 897-3337, 899-4506

For those in the Alabang area, the Philhealth office is near SM Southmall.  If you’re coming from Alabang, it’s to your right, after passing Southmall.

The minimum membership payment is 300 pesos (payment for one quarter, 100 pesos per month).  You can pay for 6 months or more.

UPDATE:

Effective October 1, 2010, Philhealth premiums for professionals with a family income of more than 25,000 per month will increase to 600 pesos per quarter, or 2,400 per year, and then further increases to 900 pesos per quarter, or 3,600 pesos per year starting in the second year of the implementation of the premium increase.  See Philhealth Premiums for Professionals.

Other Philhealth Branches Are in These Related articles:

Philhealth Branches in South Metro, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Lucena

Philhealth Branches in North Metro, Central Metro and Bulacan

Philhealth Requires Nine Months of Prior Payments

No Philhealth Payments Prior, No Philhealth Benefits